Drying rack



July 29, 1947. L. T. SANDERS DRYING- RACK Filed Dec. 1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l 'FIG.2

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July 29, 1947.. v T. SANDERS DRYING RACK Filed Dec. 1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

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July 29, 1947. L. T. SANDERS DRYING BACK 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed Dec. .1, 1944 Zea 7 vol 7, 5: dea

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DRYING RACK Filed Dec. 1, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lcondvcl T: J'amz/er' INVENTOR.

Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRYING RACK Leonard T. Sanders, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application December 1, 1944, Serial No. 566,075

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to racks for supporting wet or damp articles while they are drying.

The prime object of the invention is to provide a drying rack which may be collapsed to conserve space when not in use.

The device is primarily designed for household use in drying clothes, linens, etc., but could well be used for drying blue prints and the like.

Most housewives, particularly those having infants, find it quite a problem to dry articles of clothing and linens indoors during bad weather. They usually resort to putting u indoor clothes lines which are unsightly and which consume considerable room space when loaded.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a drying rack which Will have a maximum garment hanging capacity, and will yet use a minimum amount of floor space.

Another object is to provide a drying rack having a plurality of horizontally extendible arms for supporting articles to be dried, the rack being so designed that any desired number of the arms may selectively be extended for use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rack of the class described which may be constructed as a portable unit, or which may be built into the wall of a building.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying four sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention, two of the garment supporting arms being shown in extended positions,

and two of them being shown in collapsed positions;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view detailing the manner in which the arms are mounted in the frame;

Figure 3 is a perspective view 'of another embodiment of the invention, only one of the arms being shown in extended position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of one of the frame members, and detailing a portion of the mechanism;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of one of the frame members, and detailing a sliding mechanism used in connection with one of the collapsible frame legs;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 7 is a similar view of a further embodiment of the invention.

right positions by a pair of horizontal foot members 4 which are rigidly attached to the lower ends ofthe frame members, and which extend laterally with relation thereto. The base member 3 is provided on its upper edge with a longitudinally extending channel 5 which may well be formed by a pair of slats 6 fastened to opposite sides of the base member.

The upper ends of the two frame members I and 2 are connected together by a pair of hori-' zontal rods 1, one each of which is rigidly attached to the similar edges of the frame members. Any suitable means may be employed for the purpose of attaching the rods l to the frame memhers I and 2, for. instance, brackets 8.

Slightly below and substantially mid-way of the distance between the two rods I, there is provided a horizontally extending rod 9 which passes through both of the frame members i and 2. One end of the rod 9 has a head I0, and the other end is provided with threads II for receiving a nut I2.

Pivotally mounted upon the rod 9 between the frame members I and 2 is a plurality of rack arms l3, each of which has an elongated slot I 4 through which the rod 9 extends. Tubular spacer bushings I5 around the rod 9 act to maintain the arms I3 in their spaced relation in an obvious manner. A brace plate It may well be provided between the frame members I and 2, if desired. If such a plate is used, it will be transversely bored in three places so that the two rods I and the rod 9 may pass therethrough.

When in collapsed position, the lower ends of the arms I3 repose in the channel 5 on the base 3. When it is desired to extend one of the arms, the arm is moved longitudinally in a vertical direction so that its lower end may be swung outwardly and upwardly to a horizontal position. The extreme upper end of the arm is then thrust beneath one of the rods 1 which rod then acts to maintain the arm in its horizontal position.

In this embodiment of the invention, the arms I3 may be swung in either one of two directions, with the rod 9 acting as a pivotal axis. I

In Fig. =3 is illustrated an embodiment of the invention wherein the arms [\3 are automatically held in their extended positions when once swung to such position.

In this embodiment, the upper end portions of the standards I and 2 are connected by a horizontal rod 20, and the upper ends of the arms l3 do not have the elongated slots 14 as did the arms of Fig. 1. Instead, the arms [3 are perforated to receive a horizontal pivot rod not shown, but which is mounted between the standards on socket fittings 22 carried by the frame members I and 2. The spacer bushings i are provided around the pivot rod to hold the arms against other than pivotal movement with relation thereto.

In this embodiment, the upper ends of the arms l3 are each pivotally connected to the lower end of a latch element 23 having two vertically spaced notches 24 and 25 in its forward edge. When the arms l3 are in their retracted positions, the rod 20 is engaged in the lowermost notch .25, but when an arm is swung forwardly to a horizontal position, the lower end of itslatch element 23 is forced rearwardly and downwardly. This movement tilts the upper end of the latch element 23 in a forward direction so that the upper notch 2% may engage beneath the rod 29. .The slat ii on the forward face of the base 3 is not used in the present embodiment, and consequently the lower ends of the arms 13 are free to be moved forwardly.

As a means for resiliently urging the latch elements 23 in .a forward direction so as to normally maintain one of the notches 2 or 2.5 in engagement beneath the rod 25, the inside face of each standard, I and 2, is provided with a link'25 the lower end of which is pivoted .to the standard. A horizontal bar 21 extends between the upper ends of the two links 26, and resides against the rear edges of the latch elements 23. A spring 28 acts to urge the bar 21 against the latch elements, and the bar therefore tends to keep the latches engaged with the rod v2E1.

In Figs. 3 and 5 is shown a collapsible foot arrangement which could well be used in connection with any embodiment of the invention, in lieu of the rigidly mounted feet 4.

In this arrangement, the lower end of each standard has a. strap-iron foot 38 pivotally connected at one end to its lower extremity. The inside face of the lower portion of the standard is equipped with a channel member 3! between the folded edge portions 321 of which is slidably disposed a fiat plate 33. A link 35 has its lower end pivotally connected to the foot 38 intermediate the ends thereof, and the upper end of the link is pivotally connected to the plate 33 by a pivot pin 35. The free end of the leg 30 may therefore be swung upwardly from its extended position, as shown in Fig. 3, to a position in which it lies against the inside face of the standard. A stud 36 and thumb-nut 3'? act to anchor the plate 3! in any desired position in an obvious manner.

In Fig. 6 is shown another embodiment of the invention in which the upper end portions of the arms 43 are pivotally mounted upon a horizontal rod 40 between the spacer bushings l5. The extreme upper end of each arm i3 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 4|, which in turn has its upper end portion pivotally connected to the lower end of a second link #2. The upper end of'the second link A2 is pivotally mounted upon a horizontal rod 43 extending between the standards I and. 2. The upper end of each link Al has a laterally projeoting hook portion 44 which is adapted to contact the forward edge of the link 42 to limit relative movement of the two links in a rearward direction. Springs 45 act to normally hold the arms l3 in their retrieved position. When the arm I3 is brought to its extended position, the two links are slightly beyond center with relation to each other, and consequently the arm is firmly anchored in its horizontal position.

In Fig. 7 is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the arms (3 may be extended in either direction from the frame. In this embodiment, the upper portions of the arms l3 are pivotally mounted upon a horizontal rod extending between the two standards. The spacer bushings i5 are provided on the rod for an obvious purpose.

The extreme upper end of each arm I3 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a latch element 50. Each latch element 50 consists of an elongated plate, preferably of metal, having a longitudinally extending through slot 5| extending upwardly from a point adjacent its lower end. The upper end of the slot 5i communicates with an enlarged through opening 52 having an upwardly and inwardly facing notch 53 at each side of the upper end of the slot.

A horizontal rod 5G extends between the two standards I and 2, and passes through the slots 5! in all of the latch elements 50.

'W-hen one of the arms i3 is swung to its extended or horizontal position, in either direction, the latch element 56 is drawn downwardly and is tilted to such an extent that one of the notches 53 will engage beneath the rod 54. This engagement acts to maintain the arm 13 in its extended position.

Obviously, if it is desired to arrange the latch elementsSB so that the arms may be latched extended in only one direction, one of the notches 53 could be eliminated.

In order to hold the arms 13 in their retrieved positions, the inside face of one of the standards is equipped with a pivotally mounted member 5.5 having two spaced prongs .56. The prongs are adapted to be swung downwardly .to embrace the edges of the retrieved arms E3. The free ends -of the prongs may be sprung into a latch 5'1 is pointed out that should it be desirable to build the rack into a wall cabinet, the sides of the cabinet would take the place of the two standard I and 2, and no feet would be necessary. The bottom of the cabinet would then be constructed to take the place of the base -3.

It is obvious that the invention could well be embodied in forms other than those illustrated and described herein, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to specific structure further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drying rack, including: an upright frame; a plurality of arms having their upper end .portionspivotally mounted individually in the frame upon a horizontal ,aXis wherebyeach may be swung from a depending vertical position to a horizontal position; a horizontal rod supported by the frame in vertically spaced relation above .said'axis; andalatch element'pivotally connected to the extreme upperend of each arm havelongated member pivotally connected at its 5 lower end to the upper end of the arm above its pivotal axis; and a notch in the side of said member engaging said rod when the member is pivotally tilted from a vertical position.

3. Structure as specified in claim 1, in which the latch element for each arm includes: an elongated member pivotally connected at its lower end to the upper end of the arm above its pivotal axis; a link having its upper end pivotally mounted on said spaced rod above the arm; a pivotal connection between the upper and lower ends of said elongated member and said link; and a lateral projection on the elongated member adapted to engage the link for limiting the relative pivotal movement of said member and said link.

LEONARD T. SANDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 89,031 Danner Apr. 20, 1869 283,728 Ward Aug. 21, 1883 763,979 Horvath July 5, 1904 1,654,341 Mendio Lagoitia 1 Dec. 27, 1927 462,082 High Oct. 27, 1891 927,369 May July 6, 1909 1,341,654 Lincoln June 1, 1920 1,545,122 Brown July 7, 1925 2,353,374 Thompson July 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 80,949 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1919 

